Apparatus for forming sections of underground electrical conduits of plastic material



(No Model) 1O Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. WILLIAMS. APPARATUS FOR FORMING SECTIONS OF UNDERGROUND ELECTRICALGONDUITS 0F PLASTIGMATERIAL No. 301,547. PatentedJuly 8, 1884..

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( No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B"; WILLIAMS. APPARATUS FOR FORMING SECTIONS OF UNDERGROUND ELEGTRIGAL.

' GONDUITS 0F PLASTIC MATERIAL.

No. 301,547. Patented Jui s, 1884.

{No'M'odelJ 10 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A B. WILLIAMS.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING SECTIONS OF UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL CCNDUITS CFPLASTIC MATERIAL.

No. 301,547. Patented July 8, 1884.

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(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 4.

, B. WILLIAMS. APPARATUSIOR FORMING SECTIONS C]? UNDERGROUND ELECTRICALvCCNDUITS 0F PLASTIC 'MATERIAL.

No. 301.547. Patented July 8., 1884.

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GONDUITS 0P PLASTIC MATERIAL.

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10 Sheets-Sheet 7.

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. B. WILLIAMS. APPARATUS FOR FORMING SECTIONS OF UNDERGROUND ELECTRICALUONDUITS 0F PLASTIC MATERIAL.

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Patented Jul 8,1884.

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APPARATUS FOR FORMING- S EGTIUNS 0P UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL M/WM 01-. in:2775 44 waassasx y/ ur. Wmhinglon. 0. c.

(Ho Medal.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 9.

-B. WILLIAMS. APPARATUS FOR FORMING SECTIONS 'OF UNDERGROUND ELEGTRIGALA GONDUITS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL. No. 301,547. I Patented July 8., 1884.

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(Ho Mocll.) 10 SheetsSheet 10.

B. WILLIAMS.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING SECTIONS OF UNDERGROUND ELEOTRIGAL v I GONDUITS 0PPLASTIG MATERIAL.

No. 301547. v Patented J1 8, 188

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UNITED STA-Ties PATENT APPARATUS FOR FORMING SECTIONS OF UNDERGROUNDELECTRICAL CONDUITS .OF PLASTIC MATERIAL.

BENEZETTE WILLTAMS OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,547, dated July 8,1884.

Application filed October 11, 1883. (No model.)

. To all whom it zrtay concern:

view,partly in section.

Be it kn own that I, Bnnnznr'rn WiLLiAMs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cool: and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forForming Sections of Underground Electrical Conduits of Plastic Material,of which thefollowing is a specification, to wit:

This invention'relates to apparatus for forming sections of ,nndergroundelectrical con-j duits of plastic material; and it consists in thepeculiar construction and arrangement of the same, substantiallyas willbe hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims. Inorder to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to de-' scribeits construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawings,in which- Fgure 1 is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is an endelevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan Fig. 4c is an enlarged vertical sectionof the lower part of the mold, the steam-chamber,and its circulatingtubes or cores. Fig. 5 is avertical section of the central portion ofthe core'tubesthe upper part of the mold, and piston'or follower. Fig. 6is a vertical section of the water-chamber and its guides. Fig. 7 is abroken Vertical section of the lower end of the main hydraulic cylinderand its connection with. the mainplatflorm. Fig.8 is averticai sectionof the cylinders controlling the piston, and their connection with theframe. Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the water-chamber. Fig. 10 is across-section of the main or outer mold; and Fig. 11 is a crosssectionof the main platform, showing the brake mechanism... I A represents theframe of my apparatus, consisting of four uprights secured uponasuitable base, as represented in Figs. land 2; and B represents amovahleplatform,npon the center of whichis bolted'an annular castingy'B,bearing a casting, B of inverted-cup shape, which formsthe core for thebell end of the section, as represeuted in Fig. 4, around the base ofwhich rests a loose annular ring, I), upon which the edge of the hellrests, and which is lifted out with the'seetion after cast- To anupright, G, secured upon the-movable platform beside the annular castingB, is hinged the outer shell, 0, of the mold, which is dividedvertically into two parts, and provided with suitable ho0ks,c, forsecuring them when closed. Each portion of this mold is provided with acasing, 0', between which and the main portion of the mold is aspace, e,divided by horizontal webs c, which have openings c formed in them atalternate ends, as seen in Fig. 10. The two portions of the mold arealso provided with inlet and outlet connections with suitable pipes, bywhich a circulation of steam or hot water is kept up through thejacketed mold by means of its webs and their alternate openings, asalready described and claimed in an application now on file in thePatent Office. This mold is placed upon the platform, with the bell enddownward, as represented in Figs. 4 and 5.

Below the platform B, in a position immediately beneath the mold O, issecured the steam-head D, divided into an'upper or sup ply chamber, (2,and a lower or exhaust chamher, at, with which are connected the supplyand exhaust pipes (F d, as represented in Fig. 4; or the functions ofthese chambers may be reversed, if desired. In the upper side of thishead. D are secured a number of tubes, D, forming cores for the wirecells of the cast ing. These core-tubes D extend upward through theannular cup-shaped bell-core and through the mold, and have their upperends removably secured in a water-head, as will be presently described.

At a point I about even with the top of the jacketed two-part mold Cwhen at its lowest point, the tubes D are either plugged or made solid,as represented by dotted lines at d in Fig, 5, in order to prevent anycommunication between their upper andlower ends. \Vithin the tubes 1)are secured a series of smaller tubes, D the lower ends of which passthrough the upper chamber of the steam-head D and communicate with thelower one, and their upper ends extend within the core-tubes I) nearlyto their plugged or solid centers d", as clearly represented by dottedlines in Fig. 5.

Beneath the platform B, in the frame which supports it, are journaledtwo shafts, B B running across the machine, and provided on IOU .cylinders (as hereinafter described) than the other will be communicatedto both ends of the platform, and it is thus kept always level andprevented from any twist or strain.

Upon the shafts B are also secured the belt or grooved wheels B, aroundwhich extends a loose belt, I), which does not turn with the pulleys,but remains stationary, and which acts as a brake to hold the platformfrom any movement, as follows: I provide a hand lever.

or-brake, B", which is fulcrumed at a proper point below the platform13, and provided with two sets of small pins, 1) b", between which thebelt 1) runs, and which clutch or kink the belt as the lever is thrownto one side or the other, and prevent the belt from moving, therebyretaining the frame at any desired point upon the vertical rack -bars,and a segment-rack, B", with which the brake-lever is adapted to engage,as shown in Fig. 11, serves to lock it at any point.

Above the top of the mold G is located a rectangular frame, E, alsocarrying two shafts, E E, provided with pinions or gears 60 upon theirends, and traveling upon the vertical rack -bars, as described inreference to the platform B. This frame is in its center provided with adownwardly-projecting cylinder, E

forming a hollow piston or plunger, which, as

the frameE is raised or lowered, is withdrawn from or projected into themold 0, it being formed of a size to accurately fit this mold, andfurnished with suitable packing, e, at its lower end, which is alsoperforated, for the passage of the core-tubes D.

Upon the frame E are secured two flanged uprights or posts, E Epreferably of a form in cross-section similar to that shown in Fig. 9,and between these uprights is guided the water-head G. This water-headis divided into separate chambers g g, as described, for the steam-headl), and with these chambers connect two pipes, G G", which extend upwardinto two stand pipes or cylinders, G", provided with suitablestufling-boxes at their lower ends, and connected at any point tothe-supply and waste pipes from a tank or pump; and it will be readilyunderstood that as the water-head rises and falls the pipes G G arepushed into or withdrawn from the stand-pipes G and allow for themovement of the head without breaking the continuous circulation ofwater.

The lower chamber, '9, of the water-head is provided with'a rubber orelastic plate, G, formed with nipples G in which are secured and held insuch manner as to be water-tight, but easily removed, the upper ends ofthe core-tubes D. Within these tubes are also smaller tubes, d, whichcommunicate with the upper chamber, 9, of thewater-head, and

their lower ends extend downward nearly to the solid centers d" ofthecore-tubes.

Between the uprights of the main frame, near their upper ends, aresecured two cylinders, F F, .havingtheir upper ends open and their lowerends closed by the usual head, and provided with a port. f, for theadmission and escape of water. Each cylinder is provided with apistoirhead, F, and rod f, which extends downward, and is secured at itslower end in the platform B, as seen in Fig. 7.

These hydraulic cylinders are connected to a tank or pump, and water issupplied as re quired to lift the platform with its appliances in theprocess of casting the sections.

Upon each end of the platform B is also secured a hydraulic or steamcylinder, H H, having a port, h, at either end, and provided with apiston-head, H, whose rod h is connected at its upper end with a castingor frame,

H secured upon the movable rectangular frame E, by which means thisframe and its plunger may be given a vertical movement independent ofthe platform B when desired.

The castings H" are extended above their connection with the piston-rodsh, and have j ournaled in boxes in their upper ends a shaft, H, whichcarries a pinion or spur-gear, h meshing with a rack-bar, H", securedupon a rod extending upward from the water-head, and

between which rack-bar and the head G is a space to allow of the fullmovement of the plunger-frame E independent of the waterhead. This shaftH also has a spur-wheel,

ha, upon one end, with which engages a spursegment, H pivoted upon theadjacent casting H and provided on its outer side with a pin, h, whichtravels in a grooved guide, H, supported upon the main frame. This guideextends upward a considerable distance, and

then is bent at an angle, as-reprcsented in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thepurpose of which will be presently explained.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Theplatform is firstlowered toits lowest point, and the mold closed and secured. Steam orhot water is then admitted and caused to circulate through the lowerportions of the core-tubes, the steam-head, and the jacket of the mold.A small portion of the material to be used in the casting (preferably anasphalturn compound) is then placed in the mold, in a plastic orsemi-liquid state, and the plunger dropped within the mold to tamp itdown or submit it to pressure by means of the cylinders H H, and this isrepeated till the mold is full, the heat from the circulation of steamor hot water through and around the mass, keeping it in a plastic stateand preventing one portion from cooling before another is formed. Thenthe mold is full, water is admitted below the pistons F in the cylindersF, and the platform B, with the mold and cylinders H H, are all liftedtogether. This draws the casting upward over the coretubes, loosening ittherefrom, and smoothing and finishing the wire-cells, and the platformmay be stopped at any desired point, the brake being then applied toretain it in position should any settling or leak occur in the hy-Ttions for underground electrical conduits, a

draulic cylinders. This platform is raised till the lower endof the moldis opposite the solid central portions of the core-tubes, and there itis held till the material is sufficiently cooled by the circulation ofcool water through the upper portions of these tubes, which. are nowwithin the casting. The steam, having been cut off from the hollowjacket of the mold, may now be replaced by cold water, if founddesirable, to effect the cooling morerapidly.

the casting is cooled, the water-circulation is out off and the platformis again started on its upward course. At the time this upward motioncommences the hollow plunger has been drawn up around the water-head,(the interior of the plunger being provided with guides similar'to theflanged guides E", by

which the water-head is retained in proper tions for undergroundelectrical conduits, a

"position,) and the pinion if meshes withthe rack-bar H. The pin h nowenters the inclined portion of the guide H and throws over the segment Hacting through the shaft H and its spur-wheels to lift the rack-bar H*,and with it the water-head, with a much greater speed 'than thatimparted to the main portions of the apparatus. This draws thecore-tubes D out of the rubber nipples in the water-head and lifts theinner tubes out of the outer ones,- the inner tubes risingtilltheirlower ends are held within the end of the. plunger, and thecasting and its mold are lifted till the upper ends of the cores areinclosed within the bellformer; and in this position the mold may bereadily unlocked and swung open, when the casting is free to be liftedout and carried away till wanted for use. When the mold is'again closedand the platform descends, the action of all the parts is exactly thereverse'of that just described, and the core-tubes (both inner andouter) being held by the plunger and bell-, former in proper position,there is no difficulty in entering them in place.

It is obvious that the movable platform may be supplied with two or moreof the molds and corresponding core tubes if desired to increase thecapacity of the device.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesireto secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. In an apparatus for castingcellular sections for underground electrical conduits, a mold in whichthe sections are formed, in combinati on with a series of hollowcore-tubes, through one part of which a heating agent is caused tocirculate, and in the other part a cooling agent is circulated, andmeans for moving the mold with its cast section upon the core-tubes fromone portion to the other, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an apparatus for casting cellular secseries of cell-cores, eachconsisting of two tubes, one withinthe other, one of which is connectedto a supply and the other to an exhaust chamber or pipe, whereby aconstant circulation of heating or cooling agents may be producedthrough the mold during the prol cess of casting, substantially as shownand described.

3. In an apparatus for casting cellular sections for undergroundelectrical conduits, a series of cell-cores, each consisting of a tubehaving its central portion plugged or made solid, and one endpermanently secured in a supply-chamber, through which a heating agentis passed, and the other removably connected to a chamber through whicha cooling agent is passed, in combination with two smallercirculating-pipes entering the hollow cores from opposite ends, one ofwhich is permanently secured therein and the other adapted to bewithdrawn therefrom, substantially as shown and described.

4. In an apparatus for casting cellular secunain frame provided with amold or casing having a series of cores for forming the wirecells, andhaving means for moving it upon said cores, in combination with a hollowplunger or piston for tamping down the mate rial, and means for givingthis plunger a moent of the movement of the casing, substantially asshown and described.

5. In an apparatus for casting cellular sections for undergroundelectrical conduits, aframe having a stationary steam-head divided intotwo chambers connected with suitable supply and exhaust pipes, a seriesof double core-tubes, through one end of which steam is caused tocirculate from the steamhead, and the other end having a circulation ofwater from a double-chambered water-head above the cores, in combinationwith a movable platform carrying a casing or mold surrounding thecell-cores, and means for moving this casing from one end of the coresto the other,

whereby the material is kept heated during the'process of filling themold, and cooled by being drawn off to the opposite ends of the coresunder the effects of the water circulation,

I substantially as shown and described.

'tion either in conjunction with or independ- 1 IIO tions forunderground electrical conduits, a

main frame having a stationary series of cellcores, and two or morestationary hydraulic cylinders, each provided with a piston, incombination with a movable platform connected to said pistons, andcarrying a casing or mold surrounding the cell cores, substantially asshown and described.

9. In an apparatus for casting cellular sections for undergroundelectrical conduits, a .main frame having a series of stationary cores,and a movable platform carrying the mold or casing, and operated byhydraulic cylinders secured on the frame, in combination with anauxiliary movable frame carrying a plunger adapted to be projectedwithin the mold, and two or more hydraulic or steam cylinders supportedupon the movable platform and connected to the movable frame, wherebythe frame and plunger are given a movement either in conjunction with orindependent of the platform and its mold, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

10. In an apparatus for casting cellular sections for undergroundelectrical conduits, the core-tubes D, formed solid at their center, incombination with the inner tubes, D" d, en tering the others fromopposite ends, one end of the main tubes having a circulation of steamand the other of cool water, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

11. In an apparatus for casting cellular sections for undergroundelectrical conduits, the water-head G, formed into two chambers, one ofwhich is provided with the small tubes d and the other with a series ofelastic nipples, G in combination with the tubes D, adapted to receivethe tubes (1 and having their ends removably entered in the nipples,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In an apparatus for casting cellular sections for undergroundelectrical conduits, the combination,with the stationary series ofcoret-ubes D, of a vertically-sliding head, G, divided intocompartments, with one of which the tubes D connect, and the otherhaving a series of smaller tubes, d adapted to enter the coretubes, andthe supply and exhaust pipes G G2, telescoped within the pipes G, as thehead rises and falls, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In an apparatus for casting cellular sections for undergroundelectrical conduits, the main frame A, movable platform B, casing G, andcell-cores D, formed as herein described, in combination with the frameE, with its plunger E the water-head G, having a rack-bar, H", the shaftH, with its gears h h, segment H having a pin, h, and the bent orinclined guide H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. r

14. In an apparatus for casting cellular sections for undergroundelectrical conduits, the main frame A, having rack-bars If, incombination with the movable frame B, provided with the shafts Bcarrying pinions b, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In an apparatus for casting cellular sections for undergroundelectrical conduits, the

, combination, with the main frame and its rackbars, of themovableplatform B, having shafts wheels 13*, belt I), brake-lever B andsegmentrack 13, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. An apparatus for casting cellular sections for undergroundelectrical conduits, consisting, essentially, of a main frame having aseries of stationary double core-tubes, through opposite ends of whichheating and cooling agents are caused to circulate from a stationarysteam-head and a movable water-head, a movable platform carrying ajacketed casing or mold, a movableframe carrying a plunger or pisgivingthe water-headand plunger-frame movements independent of the mold, allconstructed, combined, and arranged to operate substantially as hereindescribed, whereby the casting is formed around the heated portion ofthe core-tubes, then drawn up to their other ends to cool, and finallydrawn off them altogether at the same time the water-head and itscirculating-tubes are drawn out of the way and the casting left free forremoval.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENEZETTE VJILLIAMS. \Vitnesses:

W. O. MoAn'rnUR, CHAS. KREssMANN.

B carr in 'saurears b and also the belt- I 1 a I a a ton adapted toenter the mold, and means for I

